Day: May 25, 2008

Joakim Noah caught with marijuana

The AP reports: Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah, son of former French Open champion Yannick Noah, has been charged with with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol. Gainesville police spokesman Sgt. Rick Roberts says Noah was arrested around 1:50 a.m. Sunday after an officer spotted him on a sidewalk holding a plastic cup containing an amber drink, a violation of city law. During a search at the station, officers found marijuana in his pocket.

InsideHoops.com says: The Bulls and Noah had some issues last season, and while they like his talent, they aren’t positive about keeping him around for the long-term. This is just one more incident that will count as a strike against him as far as Bulls management is concerned.

Spurs set playoff FT franchise low

The San Antonio Express-News reports: The five three throws the Spurs sank in 10 attempts in Game 2 against the Lakers represents a franchise low for the playoffs. The previous Spurs’ low was seven, which came against Denver in the fifth and final game of the first round last season, a 93-78 Spurs victory. It’s also a record for a Lakers’ playoff opponent. Seattle recorded the previous low when it sank only six free throws against the Lakers on April 27, 1980, in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, which the Lakers won 4-1.

League announces nine likely lottery picks to be interviewed at camp

The NBA pre-draft camp is Tuesday through Friday (May 27-30) and InsideHoops.com will be there, with coverage from us beginning tonight. The first bit of info out is the names of top prospects the NBA has named to be interviewed by the media in a separate setting.

Those names are: DJ Augustin, Texas, Jerryd Bayless (Arizona), Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Eric Gordon (Indiana), Brook Lopez (Stanford), Kevin Love (UCLA), OJ Mayo (USC), Anthony Randolph (LSU) and Derrick Rose (Memphis ).

Since that’s nine guys, more names could be added to the list, but basically that means the league expects those players are likely going to be selected as lottery picks. In no way does this guarantee those guys will all be taken before anyone else. The league inviting these guys to be interviewed in a separate setting just means, chances are, in the first 14 picks, close to all of those players will probably be selected.

May 24: Celtics 94, Pistons 80

The AP reports: The Boston Celtics insisted they weren’t worried about winning a road game, knowing their time would come in the playoffs. Perfect timing. Kevin Garnett scored 22 points to lead Boston to a 94-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night and a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals… Boston’s Big Three scored as much as its supporting cast… Two of the Pistons’ starters had awful games. Tayshaun Prince scored four points and Chauncey Billups had six, combining to shoot 3-for-17… The Celtics led 50-32 after holding Detroit to a playoff-low in the first half and getting at least two points from each of the nine Celtics who played… Detroit rallied to pull within 87-78—its smallest deficit since midway through the second quarter—with 3 minutes left, but couldn’t get closer in a game in which it trailed by as many as 24 points.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Celtics shot 46.4%, the Pistons just 38.4%. And the Celtics nailed a decent 5-of-14 three-pointers, the Pistons an awful 1-of-13. Free throws were close. The Celtics dominated the glass, 44-28 rebounds, and dished a few more assists. The Pistons did get more steals, and won blocks, 9-3.

For the Celtics, Kevin Garnett (7-of-16) had 22 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Ray Allen (awful 5-of-16, 1-of-6 threes) had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (so at least he stepped up in the non-shooting department). Rajon Rondo (5-of-10) had 12 points but more turnovers than assists. Kenderick Perkins (6-of-7) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. James Posey on just 5 shots had 12 points off the bench. Pierce Pierce (4-of-6) was off with 11 points, a few steals, and 5 turnovers.

For the Pistons, Richard Hamilton (8-of-18, 10-of-10 free throws) had 26 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Rodney Stuckey (4-of-12, but 9-of-10 free throws) had 17 points, 4 assists and 4 steals off the bench. Rasheed Wallace (6-of-13) had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups were both lousy. Jason Maxiell had 7 with 2 blocks off the bench.